Nov 2007
An Idea...
23/11/07 09:24 |
Permalink
Here is a summary of the idea I (Matthew) presented
for church at the U of A, that was formed largely
through our discussion last night and in the last
couple of months. This is not necessarily the
'complete picture,' so let's interact on this and see
where we can go with it together!
Start a primarily student-led church at the U of A by forming a student group under the Students' Union.
This church would not just consist of a weekly 'service,' but would be a Christ-centered community of people on campus.
We would have a leadership team, consisting primarily of students, that would operate with a relatively 'flat' structure (i.e. Even though there may be a team leader and everyone contributes in different ways, the entire team journeys together, focuses on process rather than just on 'destinations', and each member is invited to contribute to the decision-making process. Most importantly, every leader submits to Christ as the Head of the team).
Leaders in the church would also be required to be part of another non-church interest group on campus according to their passions and interests (e.g. ski club, dance club, environmental group, outdoors club, sci fi club, STAN, etc. [there are over 400 clubs at the U of A!!]), and we would encourage everyone in the church community to do the same.
In this way we want to show that there are many ways of worshipping God (besides singing and preaching) - and that using our gifts and passions to the full can bring glory to God. We also think that being involved in various campus groups is a good way to show the university community that our faith integrates with everyday life and even 'secular' pursuits.
We dream of being a church community that is involved in many different cultural arenas, but commonly bonded by our relationship with Jesus Christ and our desire to follow His pattern of life.
We would have a weekly church community gathering, which would serve the purpose of bringing our diverse worship expressions together, as well as engaging in corporate forms of worship and discipleship (like music, liturgy, and preaching).
Perhaps this weekly gathering should be on a weeknight, since students and staff are already at the university during the week, and may be more reluctant to come back to campus on the weekend for a gathering.
We could meet in a large public space like Dinwoodie Lounge, Convocation Hall, the PowerPlant, Myer Horowitz Theater, etc.
Our weekly gathering could include:
- A short concert (3 songs?) from a local / international band (Christ-focused or secular).
- A video interview highlighting a form of 'worship' engaged in by a Christ-follower on campus (e.g. A Powerlifter benchpressing 400 lbs; A Biology Prof working in the lab; A Climber in a Climbing Comp; A person in the Outdoors Club hiking in the mountains...); or an interview with a non-Christian on campus, investigating their passion and how spirituality plays a part in their pursuits.
- Testimonies from staff, students, and other church members about how they met with God and saw Him at work in their lives during the last week.
- Presentations from students involved in various non-church student interest groups highlighting what they do, and encouraging other students to get involved. We could also sometimes emphasize environmental and social activism in this way (so that we also have an outward focus of caring for the poor, for our environment, etc.)
- We could also sometimes have Christian and non-Christian guests in to speak and to broaden our perspective (e.g. Have a Muslim or Buddhist leader come speak on their worldview; Have a Christian missionary from another part of the world talk about their experiences; Have scientists, military spokespeople, etc. come talk about relevant world/local issues).
- 'Jesus-style' short sermonettes or teaching times (using movie clips, parables, and illustrations in teaching truths, challenging people, and clearly presenting the radical nature of the Christian message and way of life).
- Guided, open conversations with the entire gathering on the theme of the message/topic each week (i.e. after the 'sermonette' we ask some questions and give people an opportunity to talk back to us and respond to what they've just heard).
- Readings, writings, drama, artwork, crosses, candles, and other forms of meaningful liturgy.
- Communion (coming face-to-face with the death and resurrection of Christ through this symbolic meal).
- Hymns and God-focused worship through music.
- Prayer (personal quite times of reflection, small group prayer, corporate times of prayer...)
As a student church, we would likely continually be raising-up new leaders and sending others out as 'Christ-like missional leaders' as they follow God in their careers around the world.
Although we would not be a 'family church' per se, we would encourage students to find a family church when they leave the campus, or perhaps even start one with the students who graduate and start families but who still want to stay close to the university community and be in ministry here.
What do you think?! What are your ideas?!
Start a primarily student-led church at the U of A by forming a student group under the Students' Union.
This church would not just consist of a weekly 'service,' but would be a Christ-centered community of people on campus.
We would have a leadership team, consisting primarily of students, that would operate with a relatively 'flat' structure (i.e. Even though there may be a team leader and everyone contributes in different ways, the entire team journeys together, focuses on process rather than just on 'destinations', and each member is invited to contribute to the decision-making process. Most importantly, every leader submits to Christ as the Head of the team).
Leaders in the church would also be required to be part of another non-church interest group on campus according to their passions and interests (e.g. ski club, dance club, environmental group, outdoors club, sci fi club, STAN, etc. [there are over 400 clubs at the U of A!!]), and we would encourage everyone in the church community to do the same.
In this way we want to show that there are many ways of worshipping God (besides singing and preaching) - and that using our gifts and passions to the full can bring glory to God. We also think that being involved in various campus groups is a good way to show the university community that our faith integrates with everyday life and even 'secular' pursuits.
We dream of being a church community that is involved in many different cultural arenas, but commonly bonded by our relationship with Jesus Christ and our desire to follow His pattern of life.
We would have a weekly church community gathering, which would serve the purpose of bringing our diverse worship expressions together, as well as engaging in corporate forms of worship and discipleship (like music, liturgy, and preaching).
Perhaps this weekly gathering should be on a weeknight, since students and staff are already at the university during the week, and may be more reluctant to come back to campus on the weekend for a gathering.
We could meet in a large public space like Dinwoodie Lounge, Convocation Hall, the PowerPlant, Myer Horowitz Theater, etc.
Our weekly gathering could include:
- A short concert (3 songs?) from a local / international band (Christ-focused or secular).
- A video interview highlighting a form of 'worship' engaged in by a Christ-follower on campus (e.g. A Powerlifter benchpressing 400 lbs; A Biology Prof working in the lab; A Climber in a Climbing Comp; A person in the Outdoors Club hiking in the mountains...); or an interview with a non-Christian on campus, investigating their passion and how spirituality plays a part in their pursuits.
- Testimonies from staff, students, and other church members about how they met with God and saw Him at work in their lives during the last week.
- Presentations from students involved in various non-church student interest groups highlighting what they do, and encouraging other students to get involved. We could also sometimes emphasize environmental and social activism in this way (so that we also have an outward focus of caring for the poor, for our environment, etc.)
- We could also sometimes have Christian and non-Christian guests in to speak and to broaden our perspective (e.g. Have a Muslim or Buddhist leader come speak on their worldview; Have a Christian missionary from another part of the world talk about their experiences; Have scientists, military spokespeople, etc. come talk about relevant world/local issues).
- 'Jesus-style' short sermonettes or teaching times (using movie clips, parables, and illustrations in teaching truths, challenging people, and clearly presenting the radical nature of the Christian message and way of life).
- Guided, open conversations with the entire gathering on the theme of the message/topic each week (i.e. after the 'sermonette' we ask some questions and give people an opportunity to talk back to us and respond to what they've just heard).
- Readings, writings, drama, artwork, crosses, candles, and other forms of meaningful liturgy.
- Communion (coming face-to-face with the death and resurrection of Christ through this symbolic meal).
- Hymns and God-focused worship through music.
- Prayer (personal quite times of reflection, small group prayer, corporate times of prayer...)
As a student church, we would likely continually be raising-up new leaders and sending others out as 'Christ-like missional leaders' as they follow God in their careers around the world.
Although we would not be a 'family church' per se, we would encourage students to find a family church when they leave the campus, or perhaps even start one with the students who graduate and start families but who still want to stay close to the university community and be in ministry here.
What do you think?! What are your ideas?!
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EXCITED!!!
23/11/07 09:10 |
Permalink
What a GREAT meeting last night guys! Thanks for
taking a Thursday night and coming out! Even more so,
thank you for contributing to the prayers and
conversation. Our discussion about 'church at the U
of A' was energizing, and I believe it is the start
of a unique Christ-centered movement at the U of A. I
believe great things are going to happen in the next
year... - and it's only the beginning! I came home
really excited last night!!
A big THANKS to Thomas for taking some great notes last night (we'll miss you when you go to Aussie-land!). I have attached a Word file with the notes below if any of you want to look them over to remember what we talked about and comment on it (or if those of you who missed the meeting want to see what we talked about).
I have tentatively booked our next meeting for Thursday January 24th at 7:00 p.m. (with dessert and coffee). I hope to see you all then (if you don't stop by my office sooner and chat )!
U of A Church Plant Meeting – November 22
A big THANKS to Thomas for taking some great notes last night (we'll miss you when you go to Aussie-land!). I have attached a Word file with the notes below if any of you want to look them over to remember what we talked about and comment on it (or if those of you who missed the meeting want to see what we talked about).
I have tentatively booked our next meeting for Thursday January 24th at 7:00 p.m. (with dessert and coffee). I hope to see you all then (if you don't stop by my office sooner and chat )!
U of A Church Plant Meeting – November 22
